Apple Inc. (AAPL) Gets A Thumbs Up From Goldman Sachs

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) has, over the past several months, received a lot of negative insights from analysts. Not only has its stock price plunged notably, there have also been compelling arguments that demand for its flagship iPhone 5 is thinning. Despite Apple’s bearish stretch, the iPhone maker seems to be getting back on track. A recent report compiled and published by Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS) reveals that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is indeed making notable progress, particularly so with its key products.

Most notably is Apple’s aggressive approach in the tablet market. The tech big wig intends to launch a 128 GB Wi-Fi iPad this week. Considering that this new iPad is targeted at enterprise users, its primary competitor will be Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT)’s Surface Pro. It is, however, noted that Apple’s iPad will retail at $799; this is $100 cheaper than Microsoft’s Surface, which goes for $900. ZDNet writer, Mathew Miller, is inclined to believe that this $200 price difference will give Apple’s iPad an edge. In an opinionated piece, Miller contends that the new iPad is better than Microsoft’s Surface. Although Miller’s outlook is exclusively based on opinion, he points out key advantages of Apple’s 128GB iPad. For instance, the 128 GB iPad will have usable storage in the range of 122GB to 124GB. This is much bigger than Microsoft’s Surface, which currently has usable storage of 83 GB.

The renewed aggression in the tablet space is very timely. Recent figures made public by the IDC show that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), despite having a lead in the tablet segment, is losing market share considerably. Estimates from the IDC, released last week, show that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) currently controls 43.6 percent of the tablet market; this is a reasonable dip from 51.7 percent a year earlier. Offering cheaper products relative to key competitors could help Apple regain its footing in this segment.

In addition to making mention of Apple’s new tablet, Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS)’s report also detailed key advancements in Apple’s iOS 6. Last week, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) released the iOS 6.1; the first key overhaul since version 6 was released in September last year. To sweeten the pot, Timothy Cook’s promise to expand the iPhone 5’s 4G coverage materialized. The iOS 6.1 will not only allow Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) patch up 27 security vulnerabilities, but it will also add 36 new LTE carriers to the iPhone 5’s support list.